Machine for making crate sides



W. F. NEWHOUSE' MACHINE FOR MAKING CRATE SIDES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July a. A i f MM .lml l=!i l. l ii iiiiii.l. iii! llll i:

V- 1935. w. F. NEWHOUSE4 2,019,990

MACHINE FOR MAKING CRATE SIDES Filed July 29, 1952' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 5, 1935. w. F. NEWHOUSE 2,019,990

MACHINE FOR MAKING CRATE SIDES Filed July 29, 1952" 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 5, 1935. w. F. NEWHOUSE 2,019,990

MACHINE FOR MAKING CRATE SIDES Filed July 29, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet av. 5,1935, w. F. NEWHO USE Y MACHINE FOR MAKING CRATE SIDES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 29, 1952 Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STAThS ATENT EQE 43 Claims.

This invention relates to stapling machines, and more particularly to machines for stapling to-- gether the parts of a container, or of some portion thereof.

Generally stated, one object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement whereby the staples are effectively drivenand clinched in pairs, on the under side of the work, by means of pairs of clinch blocks operated by rotary cams, preferably rotary cam shafts, whereby the points of the staple are eifectively clinched to solidly anchor the pairs of staples in place.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement whereby the parts of the work to be stapled are efiectively held in proper relation, and suitably fed forward in guides, below the stapling mechanism, and above the staple-clinching means, whereby to properly present the work in position to receive the successive pairs of staples, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations, including certain novel arrangement of the staplers, tending to increase the general efficiency and the desirability of a stapling machine having workfeeding and staple clinching instrumentalities of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. l is a side elevation of a stapling machine embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the crate side which forms the product of said machine.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 in Fig. l of the drawings.

Fig. l is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the work feeding and guiding means'of said machine.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on line 5-5 in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of said machine.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of a portion of the machine.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a portion of the machine, showing the points of the staple clinched.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged horizontal section of a portion of the machine.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a base 5 upon which are mounted the side frames or castings 2, which form the body of the machine. Between these side frames 2, suitably supported on the rigid transverse bar 3, there are. parallel and longitudinally extending guides 4 and 5 5, which are channel-shaped to receive the flat cleats or battens 6 which unite the slats 1, shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thereby forming an ordinary crate side. The guides i are preferably formed of T-iron members, as shown in Fig. 10

5 of the drawings, and the middle guide 5 is preferably formed by an inverted channel-iron, as shown, metal guide strips 8 being suitably secured in place on said T-iron and channel members,

thereby to form shallow grooves or channels in 15 which the cleats or battens 6 are adapted to travel endwise, when the machine is in operation. Longitudinal guide members A, and 5, shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, are supported by the body frame, and by the standards it, shown in Fig. l of the 20 drawings, to assist in supporting the parallel and longitudinal guides. Parallel inverted channeliron members I l, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, are also supported by the body frame, and are provided on their upper sides with guide ribs 25 I2, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Transverse shafts l3 and It, as shown inFig. l of the drawings, are mounted at opposite ends of the body frame, and the parallel sprocket chains or feed belts is are carried on sprocket 30 wheels 56 mounted on said shafts. A ratchet feed device H is provided for intermittently actuating the shaft is, and thereby the said feed belts, this device in turn being actuated by an eccentric l8, shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, on 35 the shaft l9, shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, which latter is supported in suitable bearings on the body frame. Said feed belts l5 have upstanding brackets 20, the lower ends of which latter embrace the guide ribs I2, whereby the upper stretches of the two feed chains or belts are supported and guided in straight lines longitudinally of the machine. The upper bent-over end portions of the brackets 28 are suitably secured to transverse pusher bars 2i, which latter are in turn provided on their under sides with pusher blocks 22 that engage the ends of the cleats or battens 5, while the forward edge of the bar 2! engages the rear edge of one of the slats l of the crate side. The other slats of the crate side are engaged by the short angle-iron sections 25 that are suitably secured to similar brackets on the feed belts, whereby the slats l are spaced apart in the desired manner, while being fed forward in a horizontal plane; the upstanding portions 24 of the guides 4 engaging the outer edges of the two outer cleats or battens 6, and also engaging the end edges of the slats 1,.whereby the parts are held in suitably assembled relation while moving forward in unison. For this purpose, the shaft I 9, shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, can be driven by any suitable power means.

The pairs of staplers 25, as shown in Fig. 3, are disposed over the said longitudinal guides, in position to drive the staples 26 in the work, in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. These staplers are secured to the stationary cross head 2?, shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, in any suitable or known way, and are operated by the vertically reciprocating cross head 28, which latter is actuated by pitmen 29 connected to the eccentric devices 39 on the shaft I9, shown in Fig. l of the drawings, previously mentioned. As the staplers are alike, a description of one will be sufficient for all of them, as follows:

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, each stapler comprises a vertically reciprocating staple former 3| adapted to cooperate with a pivoted loop bar 32 in cutting off and bending a length of wire into staple form. A staple former 3| is yieldingly connected to the staple driver 33 by the rod 34 and the spring arrangement 35, whereby the staple driver may continue its downward motion after the staple former has engaged the work, thereby to insert the staple. While the staple is being formed, the staple former is locked to the staple driver by the dog or detent 36, which latter has a cam portion 31 for engagement with the stationary cam 38 to disengage the staple driver from the staple former at the right moment, as soon as the staple former has engaged the work, whereby the driver may then move forward alone and insert the staple in the well known manner. Each staple driver 33 is rigidly or compensatingly connected with the reciprocating cross head 28 previously mentioned. It will also be seen that the members of each pair of staplers are disposed in position to insert the staples in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, so that each staple is oblique to the 'grain of the wood, and whereby one staple of each pair is a little ahead of the other, in the direction in which the materials are moving with an intermittent feeding motion during the stapling operation, the insertion of the staples alternating with the intermittent forward feeding movement of the work.

Below each stapler, in line with the staple driver thereof, is a clinch block 39, shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, these blocks being disposed in pairs, in castings Ml suitably bolted or otherwise secured to the transverse frame bar 3 previously mentioned. As shown, each casting 69 has a back clamping plate 4| secured in place by screws or bolts 42, which clamp the casting to the bar 3, and each casting has a top plate 43 secured in place thereto by bolts or screws 49, as shown.

Each clinch block 39 is preferably cylindrical in form, having a reduced upper end portion 45 which slides up and down in an opening es in the plate 43 previously mentioned. Springs 4'! are provided to keep the said clinch blocks yieldingly in depressedor normal position upon the tops of the rotary cam rods or shafts 48, which latter are each cut off on one side, and are geared together by the gearing 49, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. One shaft 48 is connected by a sprocket chain 59, shown in Fig. l of the drawings, with a sprocket wheel on the shaft I9, whereby rotation of the shaft l9 will cause rotation of the cam shafts 48 in suitably timed relation, thereby to reciprocate the clinch blocks 39, shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings, up and down, there being a pair of these clinch blocks for each and every pair of staplers. When the clinch blocks are moved upwardly, they bend or clinch the points of the staples, as illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The staples are driven through the materials without being clinched, but are clinched afterward by the upward movement of the vertically reciprocating blocks or clinching devices 39, shown and described.

In this way, effective guiding instrumentalities are provided, for guiding the cleats or battens and the slats for the crate sides under the stapling mechanism, in a horizontal plane. The staplers and the longitudinal guides are laterally adjustable for blanks or crate sides of different sizes. The parallel sprocket chains or feed belts are disposed between the outer and the middle guides, and are effectively supported in the manner shown, thereby to space the slats apart and feed them in properly assembled relation on the cleats or battens in a horizontal plane under the stapling mechanism.

In addition, the points or lower ends of the staples are effectively clinched or bent flatwise upon the under surface of the cleats or battens, the upper ends of the clinch blocks 39, shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, being suitably formed for this purpose, so that the staple points will be smooth and flush with the under surface of the cleats or battens in the completed or finished crate sides.

The plates 43 support the work while the staples are being inserted, so that means are provided, other than the clinchers 39, for sustaining the work against the down pressure of the staple drivers, and the clinchers 39 merely occupy themselves with the clinching of the driven staples.

As shown in Fig. 10, which is a horizontal section of one of the double head staplers, it will be seen that the two staple formers 3i, and their allotted staple drivers 33, are arranged in parallel planes, all in one casing, so that each stapler head drives two staples 26 at the same time, and hence all the staples for any slat 'l are driven simultaneously at one and the same time. And, 50 during such driving of the staples, of course, the work or materials are standing still, as the feeding motion of the feed belts I5 is intermittent in character, as previously explained. With the construction shown and described, and with the staplers arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, three pairs of staples, six staples in all, are driven simultaneously by each downward actuation of the stapler heads, and the six staples are simultaneously clinched by the clinch blocks 39 in the manner explained.

Therefore, as shown and described, the product to be produced, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, with the staples placed or positioned as shown, requires that the staples and their co-operating clinch blocks be organized and relatively arranged as shown and described, in order to drive each pair of staples in an angular vertical plane adjacent the two diametrically opposite corners of the approximate square formed by the area of the lapping portions of the strips of veneer 6 and 'l, and for this purpose the staple formers and drivers, and their co-operating loop bars or anvils, are preferably grouped and arranged as shown in the drawings, and are advantageously parallel sprocket chains or feed belts, parallel belt guides for supporting the upper stretches of said belts, parallel work guides spaced from said belt guides to support parallel lower thicknesses of the work with upper thicknesses thereon,

,transverse bars secured to and connecting together said feed belts, thereby supported by said belt guides, pusher blocks on the under side of each transverse bar to engage the rear ends of said lower thicknesses of the work in said work guides, stapling mechanism for inserting staples through the upper and lower thicknesses of the work in said work guides to secure the work together, clinch-block mechanism below the work in said work guides to clinch the points of said staples on the under surface of said lower thicknesses, and means for operating said feed belts to feed the work forward in a horizontal plane under said stapling mechanism and over said clinchblock mechanism.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said work guides, comprising outer T-iron members each having one upstanding flange to engage the outer edges of the work, and guide means on the inner edge of each member.

'3; A structure as specified in claim 1, said work guides comprising outer T-iron members each having one upstanding flange to engage the outer edges of the work, and guide means on the inner edge of each member, and a middle guide comprising an inverted channel-iron with guide means on each upper edge thereof.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1, said belt guides each comprising an inverted channel-iron with a guide rib on the top thereof, each belt having brackets for supporting said transverse bar in position to feed the work, the lower ends of said brackets embracing the guide rib to hold the belt against lateral displacement, the belt being supported on said guide rib.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, each feed belt having spacers for feeding and spacing apart certain portions of the work, there being a plurality of these spacers ahead of 'each transverse bar.

6. A structure as specified in claim 1, said clinch-block mechanism comprising vertically reciprocating clinch blocks disposed in the paths of said work guides, and power means for reciprocating said clinch blocks vertically in timed relation to the stapling mechanism.

'7. A structure as specified in claim 1, said clinch-block mechanism comprising vertically reciprocating clinch blocks disposed in the paths of said work guides, and power meansfor reciprocating said clinch blocks vertically in timed relation to the stapling mechanism, said clinch blocks having a lower position for the insertion of the staples, and having upper positions for the subsequent clinching of the staple points.

8. A structure as specified in claim 1, said clinch-block mechanism comprising vertically reciprocating clinch blocks disposed in the paths of said work guides, and power means for reciprocating said clinch blocks vertically in timed relation to the stapling mechanism, said clinch blocks having a lower position for the insertion of the staples, and having upper positions for the sub sequent clinching of the staple points, said power means comprising a rotary cam rod for actuating said clinch blocks vertically.

9. In a stapling machine, the combination of a 51 longitudinal horizontal guide forming a straight path for a longitudinally disposed member of the work, instrumentalities for intermittently feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane in said guide, having a work pusher element movable along in said guide, stapler mechanism for inserting a plurality of staples downwardly in unison to secure together the parts of the work in said guide, and clinch-block mechanism disposed in fixed position and comprising a separate vertically reciprocating clinch block for each staple, under the path formed by said guide: to reciprocate in a fixed vertical plane, so that each block is movable independently of the other,

with separate spring means for retracting each block, each clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching cf the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch blocks to clinch the lower ends i of the stapleson the lower surface of said member, said mechanism comprising a fixed support for the work disposed directly under the path of intermittent feed of said pusher element and having an opening therein forming a fixed ver- 1 tical guide for each clinch block.

10. A structure as specified in claim 9, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, directly engaging the lower end of said clinch blocks.

11. A structure as specified in claim 9, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, directly engaging the lower end of one or more of said clinch blocks, with said spring means operative to maintain the lower end of each clinch block in operative engagement with said cam.

12. A structure as specified in claim 9, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, directly engaging the lower end of each clinch block, with said spring means operative to maintain the lower end of each clinch block in operative engagement with said cam, said clinch blocks being in alignment above said axis, and said cam comprising a rotary shaft cut away on one side thereof, adapted to actuate the clinch blocks in unison.

13. A structure as specified in claim 9, said clinch-block mechanism comprising a body casting, means to mount said body in fixed position, a fiat top plate forming the bottom of said guide for a distance and provided with openings for the upper end portions of the clinch blocks, and fastening means whereby said top plate is removably secured to the top of said casting.

14. A structure as specified in claim 9, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, directly engaging the lower end of one or more of said clinch blocks, said power means comprising a sprocket chain drive for continuously rotating said cam in timed relation to the stapling mechanism.

15. A structure as specified in claim 9, said power means comprising a cam mounted torotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower ends of a plurality of said clinch blocks, these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks being arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for the other member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together.

16. A structure as specified in claim 9, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower ends of a plurality of said clinch blocks, these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks being arranged ir. pairs, and there being another cam for the other member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together, the members of each pair being arranged in staggered relation.

1'7. A structure as specified in claim 9, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower ends of a plurality of said clinch blocks, these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks being arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for the other member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together, the members of each pair being arranged in staggered relation, in combination with means whereby said clinch blocks are laterally adjustable along said parallel shafts, there being a stapler allotted to each clinch block, and means whereby said staplers are also laterally adjustable, whereby the staples may be located in accordance with the requirements of the work.

18. A structure as specified in claim 9, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower ends of a plurality of said clinch blocks, these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks being arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for the other member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together, the members of each pair being arranged in staggered relation, in combination with parallel guides for the work, each guide having a pair of said clinch blocks in the path thereof, with the members of each pair of clinch blocks disposed when viewed from above on a line extending obliquely to the path of travel defined by each guide.

19. In a stapling machine, the combination of parallel sprocket chains or f ed belts, parallel belt guides for supporting the upper stretches of said belts, parallel work guides spaced from said belt guides, transverse bars connecting said feed belts, pusher biocks on the under sidev of each transverse bar to engage the work in said work guides, stapling mechanism for inserting staples through the work to secure the same together, clinchblock mechanism below the work to clinch the points of the staples and means for operating said feed belts to feed the work forward in a horizontal plane under said stapling mechanism and over said clinch-block mechanism, said work guides comprising outer T-iron members each having one upstanding fiange to engage the outer edges of the work, and guide means on the inner edge of each member, and a middle guide comprising an inverted channel-iron with guide means on each upper edge thereof.

20. In a stapling machine, the combination of parallel sprocket chains or feed belts, parallel belt guides for supporting the upper stretches of said belts, parallel work guides spaced from said belt guides, transverse bars connecting said feed belts, pusher blocks on the under side of each transverse bar to engage the work in said work guides, 5

stapling mechanism for inserting staples through the work to secure the same together, clinchblock mechanism below the work to clinch the points of the staples, and means for operating said feed belts to feed the work forward in a horizontal plane under said stapling mechanism and over said clinch-block mechanism, said belt guides each comprising an inverted channel-iron with a guide rib on the top thereof, each belt having brackets for supporting said transverse bar in position to feed the Work, the lower ends of said brackets embracing the guide rib to hold the belt against lateral displacement, the belt being supported on said guide rib.

21. In a stapling machine, the combination of parallel sprocket chains or feed belts, parallel belt guides for supporting the upper stretches of said belts, parallel work guides spaced from said belt guides, transverse bars connecting said feed belts, pusher blocks on the under side of each transverse bar to engage the work in said work guides, stapling mechanism for inserting staples through the work to secure the same together, clinchblock mechanism below the work to clinch the points of the staples, and means for operating said feed belts to feed the work forward in a horizontal plane under said stapling mechanism and over said clinch-block mechanism, said clinchblock mechanism comprising vertically reciproeating clinch blocks disposed in the paths of said work guides, and power means for reciprocating said clinch blocks vertically in timed relation to the stapling mechanism.

22. In a stapling machine, the combination of parallel sprocket chains or feed belts, parallel belt guides for supporting the upper stretches of said belts, parallel work guides spaced from said belt guides, transverse bars connecting said feed belts, pusher blocks on the under side of each transverse bar to engage the work in said work guides, stapling mechanism for inserting staples through the work to secure the same together, clinch block mechanism below the work to clinch the points of the staples, and means for operating said feed belts to feed the work forward in a horizontal plane under said stapling mechanism and over said clinch-block mechanism, said clinch-block mechanism comprising vertically reciprocating clinch blocks disposed in the paths of said work guides, and power means for reciprocating said clinch blocks vertically in timed relation to the stapling mechanism, said clinch blocks having a lower position for the insertion of the staples, and having upper positions for the subsequent clinching of the staple points.

23. In a stapling machine, the combination of parallel sprocket chains or feed belts, parallel belt guides for supporting the upper stretches of said belts, parallel work guides spaced from said belt guides, transverse bars connecting said feed belts, pusher blocks on the under side of each transverse bar to engage the work in said work guides, stapling mechanism for inserting staples through the work to secure the same together, clinchblock mechanism below the work to clinch the 7 points of the staples, and means for operating said feed belts to feed the work forward in a horizontal plane under said stapling mechanism and over said clinch-block mechanism, said clinchblock mechanism comprising vertically reciproeating clinch blocks disposed in the paths of said work guides, and power means for reciprocating said clinch blocks vertically in timed relation to the stapling mechanism, said clinch blocks having a lower position for the insertion of the staples, and having upper positions for the subsequent clinching of the staple points, said power means comprising a rotary cam rod for actuating said clinch blocks vertically.

24. In a stapling machine, the combination of instrumentalities for feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane, a stapler for inserting staples to secure the parts of the work together, and clinch-block mechanism mounmd in fixed position and comprising a vertically reciprocating clinch block mounted to reciprocate in a fixed plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower end of said clinch block, there being a plurality of these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks, arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for a member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together. a

25. In a stapling machine, the combination of instrumentalities for feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane, a stapler for inserting staples to secure the parts of the work together, and clinch-block mechanism mounted in fixed position and comprising a verticallyreciprocating clinch block mounted to reciprocate in a fixed plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower end of said clinch block, there being a plurality of these vertically reciprocatingclinch blocks, arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for a member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together, the members of each pair being arranged in staggered relation.

26. In a stapling machine, the combination of instrumentalities for feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane, a stapler for inserting staples to secure the parts of the work together, and clinch-block mechanism mounted in fixed 'position and comprising a vertically reciprocating clinch block mounted to reciprocate in a fixed plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinchingof the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower end of said clinch block, there being a plurality of these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks, arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for a member of each pair, thetwo cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together, the members of each pair being arranged in staggered relation, in combination with means whereby said clinch blocks are laterally adjustable along said parallel shafts, there being a stapler allotted to each 5 clinch block, and means whereby said staplers are also laterally adjustable, whereby the staples may be located in accordance with the requirements of the work.

27. In a stapling machine, the combination of instrumentalities for feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane, a stapler for inserting staples to secure the parts of the work together, and clinch-block mechanism mounted in fixed position and comprising a vertically reciprocating l5 clinch block mounted to reciprocate in a fixed plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block, said power means comprising, a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower end of said clinch block, there being a plurality of these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks, arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for a member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together, the members of each pair being arranged in staggered relation, in combination with parallel guides for the work, each guide having a pair of said clinch blocks in the path thereof, with the members of each pair of clinch blocks disposed when viewed from above on a line extending obliquely to the path of travel defined by each guide.

28. In a stapling machine, the combination of instrumentalities for feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane, a stapler for inserting staples to secure the parts of the work together, and clinch-block mechanism mounted in fixed position and comprising a vertically reciprocating clinch block, mounted toreciprocate in a fixed plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciproeating said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower end of said clinch block, there being a plurality of these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks, arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for a member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together.

29. In a stapling machine, the combination of a longitudinal guide forming a straight path for the work, instrumentalities for feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane in said guide, a stapler for inserting staples downwardly to secure together the parts of the work in said guide, and

said path, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower end of said clinch block, there being a plurality of these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks, arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for a member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together, the members of each pair being arranged in staggered relation.

30. In a stapling machine, the combination of instrumentalities for feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane, a stapler for inserting staples to secure the parts of the work together, and clinch-block mechanism mounted in fixed position and comprising a vertically reciprocating clinch block, mounted to reciprocate in a fixed plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower end of said clinch block, there being a plurality of these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks, arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for a member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together, the members of each pair being arranged in staggered relation, in combination with means whereby said clinch blocks are laterally adjustable along said parallel shafts, there being a stapler allotted to each clinch block, and means whereby said staplers are also laterally adjustable, whereby the staples may be located in accordance with the requirements of the work.

31. In a stapling machine, the combination of instrumentalities for feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane, a stapler for inserting staples to secure the parts of the work together, and clinch-block mechanism mounted in fixed position and comprising a vertically riciprocating clinch block, mounted to reciprocate in a fixed plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower end of said clinch block, there being a plurality of these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks, arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for a member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together, the members of each pair being arranged in staggered relation, in combination with parallel guides for the work, each guide having a pair of said clinch blocks in the path thereof, with the members of each pair of clinch blocks disposed when viewed from above on a line extending obliquely to the path of travel defined by each guide.

32. In a stapling machine, the combination of a longitudinal horizontal guide forming a straight path for a longitudinally disposed member of the work, instrumentalities for intermittently feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane in said guide, having a work pusher element movable along in said guide, a stapler for inserting staples downwardly to secure together the parts of the work in said guide, and clinch-block mechanism disposed in fixed position and comprising a vertically reciprocating clinch block under the path formed by said guide to reciprocate in a fixed vertical plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block to clinch the lower ends of the staples on the lower surface of said member, said mechanism comprising a fixed support for the work disposed directly under the path of intermittent feed of said pusher element and having an opening therein forming a fixed vertical guide for said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, directly engaging the lower end of said clinch block, together with a spring to maintain the lower end of said clinch block in operative engagement with said cam.

33. In a stapling machine, the combination of a longitudinal horizontal guide forming a straight path for a longitudinally disposed member of the work, instrumentalities for intermittently feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane in said guide, having a work pusher element movable along in said guide, a stapler for inserting staples downwardly to secure together the parts of the work in said guide, and clinch-block mechanism disposed in fixed position and comprising a vertically reciprocating clinch block under the path formed by said guide to reciprocate in a fixed vertical plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block to clinch the lower ends of the staples on the lower surface of said member, said mechanism comprising a fixed support for the work disposed directly under the path of intermittent feed of said pusher element and having an opening therein forming a fixed vertical guide for said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, directly engaging the lower end of said clinch block, together with a spring to maintain the lower end of said clinch block in operative engagement with said cam, there being a plurality of these clinch blocks in alignment above said axis, and said cam comprising a rotary shaft cut away on one side thereof, adapted to actuate the clinch blocks in unison.

34. In a stapling machine, the combination of a longitudinal horizontal guide forming a straight path for a longitudinally disposed member of the work, instrumentalities for intermittently feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane in said guide, having a work pusher element movable along in said guide, a stapler for inserting staples downwardly to secure together the parts of the work in said guide, and clinch-block mechanism disposed in fixed position and comprising a vertically reciprocating clinch block under the path formed by said guide to reciprocate in a fixed vertical plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block to clinch the lower ends of the staples on the lower surface of said member, said mechanism comprising a fixed support for the work disposed directly under the path of intermittent feed of said pusher element and having an opening therein forming a fixed vertical guide for said clinch block, said clinch-blockmechanism comprising a body casting, means to mount said body in fixed position, a flat top plate forming the bottom of said guide for a distance and provided with an opening for the upper end portion of the clinch block, and fastening means whereby said top plate is removably secured to the top of said casting.

35. In a stapling machine, the combination of a longitudinal horizontal guide forming a straight path for a longitudinally disposed member of the work, instrumentalities for intermittently feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane in said guide, having a work pusher element movable along in said guide, a stapler for inserting staples downwardly to secure together the parts of the work in said guide, and clinch-block mechanism disposed in fixed position and comprising a vertically reciprocating clinch block under the path formed by said guide to reciprocate in a fixed vertical plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block to clinch the lower ends of the staples on the lower surface of said member, said mechanism comprising a fixed support for the work disposed directly under the path of intermittent feed of said pusher element and having an opening therein forming a fixed vertical guide for said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, directly engaging the lower end of said clinch block, said power means comprising a sprocket chain drive for continuously rotating said cam in timed relation to the stapling mechanism.

36. In a stapling machine, the combination of a longitudinal horizontal guide forming a straight path for a longitudinally disposed member of the work, instrumentalities for intermittently feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane in said guide, having a work pusher element movable along in said'guide, a stapler for. inserting staples downwardly to secure together the parts of the work in said guide, and clinch-block mechanism disposed in fixed position and comprising a vertically reciprocating clinch block under the path formed by said guide to reciprocate in a fixed vertical plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block to clinch the lower ends of the staples on the lower surface of said member, said mechanism comprising a fixed support for the work disposed directly under the path of intermittent feed of said pusher element and having an opening therein forming a fixed vertical guide for said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower end of said clinch block, there being a plurality of these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks, arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for a member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together.

37. In a stapling machine, the combination of a longitudinal horizontal guide forming a straight path for a longitudinally disposed member of the work, instrumentalities for intermittently feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane in said guide, having a work pusher element movable along in said guide, a stapler for inserting staples downwardly to secure together the parts of the work in said guide, and clinch-block mechanism disposed in fixed position and comprising a vertically reciprocating clinch block under the path formed by said guide to reciprocate in a fixed vertical plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block to clinch the lower ends of the staples on the lower surface of said member, said mechanism comprising a fixed support for the work disposed directly under the path of intermittent feed of said pusher element and having an opening therein forming a fixed vertical guide for said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to ro tate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower end of said clinch block, there being a plurality of these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks, arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for a member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together, the members of each pair being arranged in staggered relation.

38. In a stapling machine, the combination of a longitudinal horizontal guide forming a straight path for a longitudinally disposed member of the work, instrumentalities for intermittently feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane in said guide, having a work pusher element movable along in said guide, a stapler for inserting staples downwardly to secure together the parts of the work in said guide, and clinch-block mechanism disposed in fixed position and comprising a vertically reciprocating clinch block under the path formed by said guide to reciprocate in a fixed vertical plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block to clinch the lower ends of the staples on the lower surface of said member, said mechanism comprising a fixed support for the work disposed directly under the path of intermittent feed of said pusher element and having an opening therein forming a fixed vertical guide for said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower end of said clinch block, there being a plurality of these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks, arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for a member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously, the two shafts being geared together,

the members of each pair being arranged in staggered relation, in combination with'means whereby said clinch blocks are laterally adjustable along said parallel shafts, there being a stapler allotted to'each clinch block, and means whereby said staplers are also laterally adjustable whereby the staples may be located in accordance with the requirements of the work.

39. In a stapling machine, the combination of a longitudinal horizontal guide forming a straight path for a longitudinally disposed member of the work, instrumentahties for intermittently feeding the work materials in a horizontal plane in said guide, having a work pusher element movable along in said guide, a stapler for inserting staples downwardly to secure together the parts of the work in said guide, and clinch-block mechanism disposed in fixed position and comprising a vertically reciprocating clinch block under the path formed by said guide to reciprocate in a fixed vertical plane, said clinch block having a lower position for the insertion of the staple, and having an upper position for the clinching of the staple points, together with power means for vertically reciprocating said clinch block to clinch the lower ends of the staples on the lower surface of said member, said mechanism comprising a fixed support for the work disposed directly under the path of intermittent feed of said pusher element and having an opening therein forming a fixed vertical guide for said clinch block, said power means comprising a cam mounted to rotate about a fixed horizontal axis, engaging the lower end of said clinch block, there being a plurality of these vertically reciprocating clinch blocks, arranged in pairs, and there being another cam for a member of each pair, the two cams being in the form of parallel rotary shafts each cut away at one side thereof, and said power means being operative to rotate said shafts continuously,

the two shafts being geared together, the members of each pair being arranged in staggered relation, in combination with parallel guides for the work, each guide having a pair of said clinch blocks in the path thereof, with the members of each pair of clinch blocks disposed when viewed from above on a line extending obliquely of the path of travel defined by each guide.

40. In a stapling machine, mechanism for simultaneously inserting a plurality of staples in the work, separate vertically reciprocating clinchers for each staple, spaced apart the desired distance for the staples, parallel cam shafts for engaging the lower ends of said clinchers and thereby operating them in unison, and means for rotating said shafts in unison, in timed relation to the insertion of the staples.

41. A structure as specified in claim 40, comprising means for feeding the work under said stapling mechanism, said shafts being disposed transversely of said feeding means in a plane below the latter.

42. A structure as specified in claim 40,, said stapling mechanism being adapted to insert the staples in a row extending obliquely of the work, and said clinchers being disposed in the vertical plane of said row.

43. A structure as specified in claim 40, comprising means for intermittently feeding the work below said stapling mechanism, the latter being held in fixed position, and means for supporting said clinchers for operation up and down in fixed position below the feeding plane.

WALTER F. NEWHOUSE. 

